The Amity Affliction "Chasing
Ghosts" Album Review — 5 out of 5 stars
It's hard to stand out in heavy music
these days.
The genre's reached a point of oversaturation. Even the subgenres—regardless whether it's deathcore or mainstream hard rock—have become overpopulated to the point of suffocation. However, there's always one band that strikes out on its own and does something downright revolutionary. For 2012, the originality crown goes to The Amity Affliction.
Their second offering, Chasing Ghosts, siphons technical heavy metal, gritty hardcore, skittering electronics, and pop melody into music that's decidedly real, raw, and refreshing. Commencing with the inimitably catchy yet brilliantly bludgeoning title track, the group skates a fine line between beauty and brutality that only Deftones and Killswitch Engage have managed to equal. The interplay of frontman Joel Birch, the screamer, and bassist Ahren Stringer, the crooner, is nothing short of hypnotic. At the same time, guitarists Troy Brady and Imran Siddiqi murderously riff 'n' roll along to Ryan Burt's punchy drumming. Orchestral synths creep below the surface of "Life Underground", adding a horror movie tension to the music, while "Greens Avenue" delivers a succinct crushing groove before another pristine hook from Stringer.
Watery piano begins "I Heart H.C." before another descent into madness, and the decisive duality of "Flowerbomb" proves remarkable. "Bondi St. Blues" exhales one final crushing breath to leave you battered in the best way possible and hungry for more.
With blood on the floor and the competition in the dust, The Amity Affliction stand at the top. Chasing Ghosts is a flawless classic and the start of something big…
—Rick Florino
10.02.12
The genre's reached a point of oversaturation. Even the subgenres—regardless whether it's deathcore or mainstream hard rock—have become overpopulated to the point of suffocation. However, there's always one band that strikes out on its own and does something downright revolutionary. For 2012, the originality crown goes to The Amity Affliction.
Their second offering, Chasing Ghosts, siphons technical heavy metal, gritty hardcore, skittering electronics, and pop melody into music that's decidedly real, raw, and refreshing. Commencing with the inimitably catchy yet brilliantly bludgeoning title track, the group skates a fine line between beauty and brutality that only Deftones and Killswitch Engage have managed to equal. The interplay of frontman Joel Birch, the screamer, and bassist Ahren Stringer, the crooner, is nothing short of hypnotic. At the same time, guitarists Troy Brady and Imran Siddiqi murderously riff 'n' roll along to Ryan Burt's punchy drumming. Orchestral synths creep below the surface of "Life Underground", adding a horror movie tension to the music, while "Greens Avenue" delivers a succinct crushing groove before another pristine hook from Stringer.
Watery piano begins "I Heart H.C." before another descent into madness, and the decisive duality of "Flowerbomb" proves remarkable. "Bondi St. Blues" exhales one final crushing breath to leave you battered in the best way possible and hungry for more.
With blood on the floor and the competition in the dust, The Amity Affliction stand at the top. Chasing Ghosts is a flawless classic and the start of something big…
—Rick Florino
10.02.12
Originally posted at: http://www.artistdirect.com/entertainment-news/article/the-amity-affliction-chasing-ghosts-album-review-5-out-of-5-stars/10254240
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